Grief and Jiu-Jitsu 1

Grief changes over time. It is brutal and brings you to your knees over and over. Nothing cures grief. The loss just integrates into your life and becomes true. Often in death and loss people turn to their spiritual practice for solace and answers to cure their grief somehow. After […]


A Guide for Parents: What to Know When Your Child Trains Jiu Jitsu

As a parent we all want what is best for our children. We want to provide them with as many opportunities to learn, grow, and develop into their best possible selves. By exposing them to a wide variety of activities they can find outlets that will aid them in living […]


Jiu Jitsu Hair Problems

Meet the ladies behind JiujitsuHairProbs, Madisson Larson and Sophie Gomez. Both reside in the Pacific Northwest –Madisson is in Oregon and Sophie is in Idaho. You may or may not have seen their booth at tournaments. Their mission is to create safe and fun environments for anyone and everyone who […]


How Jiu Jitsu Helps w/ Your Well Being

I feel great! This is a sentiment often expressed by BJJ practitioners after a training session.  Despite grueling warm-ups, intense drills, and challenging spars, at the end of class there is usually a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. This is not surprising since physical activity has been linked to improved […]


How Girls in Gis Helped Me On The Long Road to Black Belt

I remember the day I decided that I wasn’t going to quit Jiu-Jitsu. A week earlier, black belt Kristine Felts had visited my academy and after one of the most challenging rolls of my life, we stopped to talk in the parking lot. I was a purple belt at the […]


The American Dream

Following in the footsteps of female world champions that came before her and under the watchful eye of Leticia Ribeiro, you will find  Mariana Rolszt.  Within the first year of earning her black belt from Leticia, Rolszt successfully fought her way to the top at the IBJJF Brazilian National Championships […]


The Challenge You Need 1

Jiu jitsu gives you the challenge you need, not the challenge you want.  One reason it provides so much personal growth is because we cannot hide from ourselves, jiu jitsu’s demands, and the truth BJJ mirrors. For true change and true growth, we must clearly see who we are in […]


A Woman’s Place

It takes a certain type of woman to forge her path in what is considered to be a man’s world, but when it comes to the business world and being on the mats, Ann-Marie Bernitt is boss. Her petite structure and sweet demeanor will have you fooled. But make no […]


Self Defense Tips That Can Save Your Life

Not all women want to learn jiu jitsu, but it would be safe to say that a large percentage of women want to learn self-defense. The great thing is, not all self-defense is physical. In fact, self-defense starts as a mind-set, not on the mats . You don’t need to […]


Jiu Jitsu is My Therapy

This is a phrase that is often heard among jiu-jitsu practitioners implying that their participation in jiu-jitsu has similar effects to going to therapy.  While these effects can definitely be experienced, it is important to clarify the distinction between something being therapeutic, which is when something has a healing or […]